Effectiveness of drugs strategy examined in new inquiry

• Parliament TV: watch the session
• Inquiry: Drugs
• Home Affairs Committee

Purpose of the session

Drug misuse and addiction in the UK has a serious impact on public health and wider society. In 2020/21 there were 6,091 drug related deaths in the UK, having grown steadily over the previous decade. NHS England recorded 100,000 admissions for drug-related mental and behavioural disorders in 2019/20.

In this opening session the Committee will examine the key issues and trends relating to drugs in the UK. It will examine the impact of the current legislative framework designed to restrict the use of dangerous and harmful drugs, as well as wider drugs policy. It will examine the effectiveness of current control mechanisms, such as the drugs classification system, and ask if there is a need for reform. The Committee will also look at what is being done to support those adversely affected by drug addiction and its wider societal consequences.

Witnesses

Wednesday 27 April 2022, at 10am:

• Niamh Eastwood, Executive Director, Release 
• Rudi Fortson QC, barrister, 25 Bedford Row
• Chloe Hartnell, Partner, Hodge Jones & Allen LLP
• Dr Kojo Koram, Lecturer in Law, Birkbeck School of Law, University of London 
• Dr Karenza Moore, Lecturer in the Sociology of Crime, Newcastle University
• Martin Powell, Head of Partnerships, Transform Drugs

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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